How to Play Dots and Boxes
Dots and Boxes needs two players and a grid of dots. Take turns drawing a single line between two neighbouring dots, across or down. Whoever draws the fourth side of a box claims it and must draw again; a line that closes nothing ends the turn. When no lines are left, count the boxes: the player with more wins, and even boards can tie.
The rules, step by step
- 1Start with a grid of dotsChoose a board of 3 × 3 to 6 × 6 boxes, and who draws first. No lines are drawn and no boxes belong to anyone.
- 2Draw one line on your turnJoin two dots that sit next to each other, across or down. No diagonals, and a line can only be drawn once.
- 3Close a box to claim itDrawing the fourth side of a box makes it yours. A line that is the shared side of two three-sided boxes claims both.
- 4Closing a box means drawing againAfter claiming a box you must draw another line at once. The turn passes only when a line closes nothing.
- 5Play until every line is drawnThe last line always closes at least one box, so the game ends at the same moment every box has an owner.
- 6Most boxes winsCount the boxes each player claimed. The higher count wins, and a board with an even number of boxes can finish level.
Try it — the rules above, running
New game starts an empty board. Tap or click anywhere between two dots to draw that line — the whole diamond between them is the target, and hovering shows the line before you commit. Draw the fourth side of a box and it is yours, in your colour, and you draw again. The three-dot menu holds the board size, the computer’s level and who draws first; with a keyboard, the arrows walk the lines and Enter draws.
Your statistics · 4 × 4 · Medium
- Played
- 0
- Won
- 0
- Win rate
- 0%
- Streak
- 0
- Best streak
- 0
- Best time
- —
This level
Never draws a third side while a safe line is left, then gives away the smallest chain. It always takes every box, so it never keeps control.
Keyboard
- Arrows
- Move along the lines
- Enter / Space
- Draw the highlighted line
- N
- New game
- F
- Full screen
How does a turn work in dots and boxes?
- 1Draw one linePick two dots next to each other, across or down, with no line between them yet, and join them.
- 2Check the boxes on either sideIf the line was the fourth side of a box, that box is yours. An inside line borders two boxes, so it can close both.
- 3Draw again if you closed a boxClosing a box earns another line, and you have to draw it. Keep going for as long as each line closes something.
- 4Hand over when a line closes nothingThe first line that closes no box ends your turn, and your opponent draws next.
What is a safe line?
A line that leaves every box it touches with at most two sides drawn. It gives your opponent nothing, because no box is one line from finished. Early in the game there are plenty of safe lines; the game turns when they run out and every line left gives something away. From then on, the question is only how much — a single box, a pair, or a whole chain.
When does a game of dots and boxes end?
When every line has been drawn. That is always the same moment as every box being claimed: every line is a side of some box, and the last line drawn always closes at least one. Count the boxes — more wins. On boards with an even number of boxes, such as 4 × 4 and 6 × 6, the count can come out level.
Once you have the rules, the dots and boxes page explains the long chain rule and double-dealing, which decide most games between players who both avoid third sides.
How do you win more often?
- Never draw a third side while a safe line existsA box with three sides drawn is a gift to whoever draws next. Until the safe lines run out, every line you draw should leave each box it touches with at most two sides.
- Count the long chains before the safe lines run outChains of three or more decide the endgame, and the long chain rule says which count you want. Split, lengthen or join chains in the last safe moves so that your opponent is the one who has to open the first long chain.
- Take all but two, then decideWhen a long chain is opened for you, take every box except the last two. Then either take those two and open something yourself, or draw the far end line and make your opponent open the next chain — whichever wins more boxes over the rest of the board.
- Give away short chains first, and a pair by its middle lineWhen you must give something away, sacrifice single boxes and pairs before long chains. Open a pair by the line between its two boxes: your opponent then cannot hand it back, so they cannot use it to keep control.
- Remember that a loop costs fourKeeping control after a loop is opened means handing back four boxes as two pairs, not two. A short loop is often better simply taken, and a board full of loops favours the player who has to give things away.
Common questions about dots and boxes
- Can you draw a diagonal line in dots and boxes?
- No. Every line joins two dots that are next to each other horizontally or vertically, so every line is a side of a square box. A diagonal would not be the side of any box.
- How many lines does a dots and boxes board have?
- It depends on the size. On this site the 3 × 3 board has 24 lines, 4 × 4 has 40, 5 × 5 has 60 and 6 × 6 has 84 — in general a board of n × n boxes has 2n(n + 1) lines.
- Do you get another turn for closing two boxes with one line?
- You get one more line, just as for closing a single box. Closing a box never earns more than one extra line, however many boxes that line closes.
Ready to stop reading? Play dots and boxes on the full board, with controls and statistics tailored to that game.